Apparatus and methods for adjustably mounting a faceplate on a drawer

ABSTRACT

An apparatus is disclosed for mounting a faceplate on a front wall of a drawer, the apparatus comprising a mounting bracket having a base portion with a first side configured for attachment to the faceplate and a second side having a post extending in a direction away from the first side, the post having a threaded recess therein and configured for insertion into a passageway in the front wall of the drawer, the threaded recess configured for threadable engagement therein with a screw positioned into one side of the passageway and the mounting bracket positioned into the other side of the passageway so as to selectively secure the faceplate to the drawer by tightening and loosening the screw in engagement with the threaded recess.

REFERENCE TO PENDING PRIOR APPLICATION

This patent application claims benefit of pending prior U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/499,577, filed Sep. 2, 2003 by David Feeley et al. for APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR ADJUSTABLY MOUNTING A FACEPLATE ON A DRAWER (Attorney's Docket No. LUX-1 PROV), which patent application is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is related to fastening apparatus and methods in general, and more particularly to apparatus and methods for adjustably mounting a faceplate on a drawer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Adjustable faceplate systems are desirable to permit alignment of the faceplate with the adjacent features of a desk or cabinet. An adjustment of a faceplate is typically made during the installation or assembly of a desk or cabinet. However, adjustable faceplate systems have typically consisted of an L-shaped bracket which requires a separate fastening component for each of horizontal adjustment and vertical adjustment. These adjustable faceplate systems require significant skill to incrementally adjust the position of the faceplate while alternatively loosening and tightening the two separate fastening components.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a mounting bracket for mounting a faceplate on a drawer such that the faceplate is selectively adjustable in any direction within a plane parallel to the front wall of drawer.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a system for mounting a faceplate on a drawer such that the faceplate is selectively adjustable in any direction within a plane parallel to the front wall of the drawer.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a method for mounting a faceplate on a drawer such that the faceplate is selectively adjustable in any direction within a plane parallel to the front wall of the drawer.

With the above and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear, there is provided apparatus for mounting a faceplate on a front wall of a drawer, the apparatus comprising a mounting bracket having a base portion with a first side and a second side in opposition to one another, the first side configured for attachment to the faceplate, the second side having a post extending in a direction away from the first side, the post having a given height, a maximum outer width, and a threaded recess therein extending to a given depth, the maximum outer width of the post configured for insertion into a passageway in the front wall of the drawer having a given cross-sectional profile larger than with the maximum outer width thereof, and the threaded recess configured for threadable engagement therein with a screw positioned into one side of the passageway and the mounting bracket positioned into the other side of the passageway so as to selectively secure the faceplate to the drawer by tightening and loosening the screw in engagement with the threaded recess.

In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, there is provided a system for mounting a faceplate on a front wall of a drawer, the system comprising:

-   -   at least two mounting brackets, each one of the at least two         mounting brackets comprising a base portion with a first side         and a second side in opposition to one another, the first side         configured for attachment to the faceplate, the second side         having a post extending in a direction away from the first side,         and the post having a given height, a maximum outer width, and a         threaded recess therein extending to a given depth;     -   the front wall of the drawer having an outside face and an         inside face, the front wall containing at least two passageways         between the inside face and the outside face, and each one of         the at least two passageways having a given cross-sectional         profile configured larger than the maximum outer width of the         post of the at least two mounting brackets; and     -   at least two screws, each one of the at least two screws having         a shank and a head, the shank having a given length, a first         width, threads formed thereon, and configured for threadable         engagement with the threaded recess contained in one of the at         least two mounting brackets, the head having a second width, the         second width larger than the first width, the threads formed on         the shank corresponding to the threads formed in the recess of         one of the at least two mounting brackets, and the given length         of the shank configured for positioning into one of the at least         two passageways through the inside face of the front wall of the         drawer to selectively engage in one of a first arrangement and a         second arrangement the post of the one of the at least two         mounting brackets positioned into one of the at least two         passageways through the outside face of the front wall of the         drawer;     -   wherein the first arrangement positions the at least two screws         at a first given depth within the threaded recess of the at         least two mounting brackets, respectively, and the first depth         of the at least two screws allows movement of the at least two         posts in any direction within a plane parallel to the front wall         of the drawer so as to allow adjustment of the faceplate with         respect to the front wall of the drawer; and     -   wherein the second arrangement positions the at least two screws         at a second given depth within the threaded recess of the at         least two mounting brackets, respectively, and the second depth         of the at least two screws secures the faceplate with respect to         the front wall of the drawer.

In accordance with another further feature of the present invention there is provided a method for mounting a faceplate on a front wall a drawer, the method comprising:

-   -   attaching at least two mounting brackets to a surface of the         faceplate;     -   inserting posts extending from the at least two mounting         brackets into passageways formed in the front wall the drawer so         as to position the surface of the faceplate having at least two         mounting brackets attached thereto adjacent to an outer surface         of the front wall;     -   positionably adjusting the faceplate in at least one of a         horizontal direction and a vertical direction with respect to         the drawer within a plane parallel to the front wall of the         drawer and with the threaded posts confined to the passageways         through the front wall of the drawer;     -   inserting screws through washers and rotating the screws to         threadably engage the threaded posts to a first given depth,         respectively; and     -   further rotating the screws to engage the threaded posts to a         second given depth, the second given depth being greater than         the first given depth so as to fixedly secure the position of         the faceplate with respect to the drawer.

The above and other features of the invention, including various novel details of construction and combinations of parts and method steps will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It will be understood that the particular devices and method steps embodying the invention are shown by way of illustration only and not as limitations of the invention. The principles and features of this invention may be employed in various and numerous embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects and features of the present invention will be more fully disclosed or rendered obvious by the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, which are to be considered together with the accompanying drawings wherein like numbers refer to like parts, and further wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of an embodiment of a novel mounting system with the faceplate separated from the drawer and mounting hardware with the drawer bracket attached to the faceplate;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of an enlarged view of a portion of the faceplate, drawer, drawer bracket, and mounting hardware shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a set of mounting hardware shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, and in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is shown a novel mounting bracket 5 for selective, adjustable mounting of a faceplate 10 to a drawer 15.

Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, and in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, bracket 5 comprises a base portion 20 and a threaded post 25 extending outwardly therefrom. Base portion 20 forms a pair of openings 30 (FIG. 3) therethrough for attachment of the mounting bracket 5 to the faceplate 10. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention (not shown), an adhesive may be used to secure base portion 20 to faceplate 10. Threaded post 25 comprises a central bore 35 (FIG. 3) having a screw thread 40 (FIG. 3) formed therein. Threaded post 25 extends from base portion 20 to a height A and has an outer width B. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention (not shown), threaded post 25 comprises a rectangular, cubic, trapezoidal or other non-cylindrical extension.

Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, and in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, drawer 15 comprises a floor 45 bounded by a front wall 50, a back wall 55, and two side walls 60, 65. Front wall 50 of drawer 15 is configured with first and second passageways 70, 75 extending therethrough. Front wall 50 has a width C adjacent to each of first and second passageways 70, 75, respectively. First and second passageways 70, 75 each have a diameter D, which is configured to be larger than width B of threaded post 25. Accordingly, drawer 15 is configured with passageways 70, 75 that are over-sized with respect to width B of threaded post 25 extending from base portion 20 of drawer bracket 5. This over-sized configuration permits lateral movement of threaded post 25 within passageways 70, 75 so as to allow translation of freeplate 10 with respect to a plane parallel to the outer surface of front wall 50 of drawer 15.

Still looking at FIGS. 1 and 2, and in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a screw 80 and a washer 85 are provided for securing faceplate 10 on to drawer 15. Screw 80 comprises a shank 90 (FIG. 3) having threads 95 (FIG. 3) that correspond to screw thread 40 within central bore 35 of threaded post 25. Screw 80 comprises a head 100 (FIG. 3) having a larger width than the width of shank 90 (FIG. 3) so as to provide a bearing surface to secure mounting bracket 5 against the outer surface of front wall 50 of drawer 15 when screw 80 is threadably engaged with threaded post 25 to a given depth. The length of the threaded portion of shank 90, and length A of threaded post 25, may be configured for use in which length A is less than, or equal to, width C of front wall 50. Washer 85 comprises an inner diameter E (FIG. 3) that is larger than the width of shank 90 (FIG. 3) and is smaller than the width of head 100 (FIG. 3) so as to permit passage of shank 90 (FIG. 3), but not head 100, therethrough. Washer 85 further comprises an outer diameter F (FIG. 3) that is larger than diameter D of passageways 70, 75 so as to prevent washer 85 from entering one of passageways 70, 75 and, in turn, prevent head 100 (FIG. 3) from entering one of passageways 70, 75.

Referring now to FIG. 3, and in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is shown a set 105 of mounting hardware comprising mounting bracket 5, screw 80 and washer 85. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, two mounting hardware sets 105 are utilized to secure faceplate 10 to drawer 15 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). In an alternative embodiment of the present invention (not shown), faceplate 10 is secured to drawer 15 with three or more mounting hardware sets 105 (FIG. 3).

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, and in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a method for adjustably mounting faceplate 10 on to drawer 15 is described hereinbelow. First, a pair of mounting brackets 5 are attached to a back surface 110 of faceplate 10 by using screws 115 through openings 30 (FIG. 3) of base portion 20. Second, threaded posts 25 of the pair of drawer brackets 5 are inserted into passageways 70, 75 of drawer 15 so as to position back surface 110 of faceplate 10 adjacent to an outer surface 120 of front wall 50. Third, faceplate 10 is positionally adjusted horizontally and/or vertically with respect to drawer 15 with each one of threaded posts 25 confined to passageways 70, 75, respectively. Fourth, screws 80 are inserted through washers 85 and rotated to threadably engage threaded posts 25, respectively. Fifth, screws 80 are further rotated to engage threaded posts 25 to a greater depth so as to fixedly secure the position of faceplate 10 with respect to drawer 15. Additionally, the third method step and the fourth method step may be interchanged with one another so as to adjust the position of faceplate 10 after screws 80 are threadably engaging threaded posts 25. An intermittent step may also be added between the fourth method step and the fifth method step in which faceplate 10 is readjusted horizontally and/or vertically with respect to drawer 15. 

1. Apparatus for mounting a faceplate on a front wall of a drawer, the apparatus comprising a mounting bracket having a base portion with a first side and a second side in opposition to one another, the first side configured for attachment to the faceplate, the second side having a post extending in a direction away from the first side, the post having a given height, a maximum outer width, and a threaded recess therein extending to a given depth, the maximum outer width of the post configured for insertion into a passageway in the front wall of the drawer having a given cross-sectional profile larger than with the maximum outer width thereof, and the threaded recess configured for threadable engagement therein with a screw positioned into one side of the passageway and the mounting bracket positioned into the other side of the passageway so as to selectively secure the faceplate to the drawer by tightening and loosening the screw in engagement with the threaded recess.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the screw is inserted to a first given depth within the threadable recess of the mounting bracket, and further wherein the first given depth is configured to allow lateral movement of the post within the passageway so as to allow adjustment of the faceplate with respect to the drawer in any direction within a plane parallel to the front wall of the drawer.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the screw is inserted to a second given depth within the threadable recess of the mounting bracket, the second given depth extending further into the given depth of the threaded recess of the post than the first given depth, and further wherein the second given depth is configured to restrict lateral movement of the post within the passageway so as to secure the faceplate with respect to the front wall of the drawer.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a washer forming an opening therethrough having an minimum width and having a outer edge having a maximum width, wherein the minimum width of the inner opening is configured to allow the screw to pass therethrough, and wherein the maximum of the outer edge is configured to restrict the washer from entering the passageway.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the post comprises a cylindrical extension from the base portion, and the maximum outer width of the cylindrical extension of the post is the diameter of a circular periphery thereof.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the post comprises a non-cylindrical extension.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the non-cylindrical extension comprises one selected from a group consisting of a rectangular extension, a cubic extension, and a trapezoidal extension.
 8. A system for mounting a faceplate on a front wall of a drawer, the system comprising: at least two mounting brackets, each one of the at least two mounting brackets comprising a base portion with a first side and a second side in opposition to one another, the first side configured for attachment to the faceplate, the second side having a post extending in a direction away from the first side, and the post having a given height, a maximum outer width, and a threaded recess therein extending to a given depth; the front wall of the drawer having an outside face and an inside face, the front wall containing at least two passageways between the inside face and the outside face, and each one of the at least two passageways having a given cross-sectional profile configured larger than the maximum outer width of the post of the at least two mounting brackets; and at least two screws, each one of the at least two screws having a shank and a head, the shank having a given length, a first width, threads formed thereon, and configured for threadable engagement with the threaded recess contained in one of the at least two mounting brackets, the head having a second width, the second width larger than the first width, the threads formed on the shank corresponding to the threads formed in the recess of one of the at least two mounting brackets, and the given length of the shank configured for positioning into one of the at least two passageways through the inside face of the front wall of the drawer to selectively engage in one of a first arrangement and a second arrangement the post of the one of the at least two mounting brackets positioned into one of the at least two passageways through the outside face of the front wall of the drawer; wherein the first arrangement positions the at least two screws at a first given depth within the threaded recess of the at least two mounting brackets, respectively, and the first depth of the at least two screws allows movement of the at least two posts in any direction within a plane parallel to the front wall of the drawer so as to allow adjustment of the faceplate with respect to the front wall of the drawer; and wherein the second arrangement positions the at least two screws at a second given depth within the threaded recess of the at least two mounting brackets, respectively, and the second depth of the at least two screws secures the faceplate with respect to the front wall of the drawer.
 9. A system according to claim 8 further comprising a washer forming an opening therethrough having an minimum width and having a outer edge having a maximum width, wherein the minimum width of the inner opening is configured to allow the shank of one of the at least two screws to pass therethrough and to restrict the head of the one of the at least two screws from passing therethrough, and wherein the maximum of the outer edge is configured to restrict the washer from entering one of the at least two passageways.
 10. A system according to claim 8 wherein the post comprises a cylindrical extension from the base portion, and the maximum outer width of the cylindrical extension of the post is the diameter of a circular periphery thereof.
 11. A system according to claim 8 wherein the post comprises a non-cylindrical extension.
 12. A system according to claim 11 wherein the non-cylindrical extension comprises one selected from a group consisting of a rectangular extension, a cubic extension, and a trapezoidal extension.
 13. A method for mounting a faceplate on a front wall a drawer, the method comprising: attaching at least two mounting brackets to a surface of the faceplate; inserting posts extending from the at least two mounting brackets into passageways formed in the front wall the drawer so as to position the surface of the faceplate having at least two mounting brackets attached thereto adjacent to an outer surface of the front wall; positionably adjusting the faceplate in at least one of a horizontal direction and a vertical direction with respect to the drawer within a plane parallel to the front wall of the drawer and with the threaded posts confined to the passageways through the front wall of the drawer; inserting screws through washers and rotating the screws to threadably engage the threaded posts to a first given depth, respectively; and further rotating the screws to engage the threaded posts to a second given depth, the second given depth being greater than the first given depth so as to fixedly secure the position of the faceplate with respect to the drawer.
 14. A method according to claim 13 further comprising the step of positionally adjusting the faceplate in the at least one of the horizontal direction and the vertical direction subsequent to the step of inserting the screws through the washers and rotating the screws to threadably engage the threaded posts to the first given depth.
 15. A method according to claim 14 further comprising the step of rotating the screws from the second given depth to the first given depth prior to the step of positionally adjusting the faceplate in the at least one of the horizontal direction and the vertical direction. 